Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced intense scrutiny from both parties during her testimony before the House Oversight Committee. The committee members condemned her leadership following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Chairman James Comer (R-KY) criticized Cheatle for the “catastrophic” security failure, calling for her resignation. Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) also expressed disappointment, using the opportunity to push for stricter gun control measures.
Cheatle admitted the July 13 incident was the “most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades” and accepted “full responsibility.” However, she refused to step down, citing the ongoing investigation as the reason for her continued leadership.
Throughout the hearing, Cheatle’s responses to questions about the security measures and details of Trump’s protection team were vague and uninformative. She frequently mentioned the ongoing investigation as a reason for her lack of detailed answers, which only increased the committee’s frustration.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) remarked that Cheatle’s performance during the hearing made her appear “incompetent” and suggested that had Trump been killed, she would have been seen as “culpable.” The hearing concluded with Cheatle facing heightened scrutiny over her leadership and the agency’s preparedness to protect high-profile individuals.
